Welcome to the Harry Bailey Home:
A place of rich history and timeless charm
IMMERSE IN HISTORY
Front of House
During the Jim Crow Era, the Harry Bailey House, also referred to as the "Bottle House," was constructed in 1939 by Harry Bailey, an African American, with help from Louis Hale.
Bailey, who worked as an orderly at the VA Hospital for two decades and served as an airplane mechanic, ran a beer tavern on his property referred to as the "Jungle" due to its wooded surroundings.
He amassed a collection of beer bottles and other assorted bottles.
Bottles embedded in wall
Harry Bailey incorporated over 300 bottles into the exterior perimeter walls of his house. The walls feature a random assortment of mortar, brick, stone, and ceramic tile fragments. Pink tiles are predominantly found atop the window edges.
The standout feature of the Harry Bailey House is its perimeter walls, which embed around 350 glass bottles dating back to the late 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
These bottles come in various colors, shapes, and sizes, all integrated into the walls' exterior.
Bottles with Top
Bottles on East Wall
Bottles on North Wall
Bottles are scattered in various directions around the house. Two decorative wooden windows are present on the north and east sides of the house, visible only from the outside.
The Harry Bailey House is replete with such peculiarities and is believed to be unique in its construction.
Enthusiasts such as collectors, recyclers, antique aficionados, and artists find the house particularly fascinating. The United States Department of the Interior recognized the Harry Bailey House's uniqueness by listing it on the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 2000.
As a historically significant structure, the house is protected from alterations. Efforts are underway to secure a grant through the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, primarily to preserve the home's exterior
*** The Harry Bailey House is listed as #17 on the Lebanon/Wilson County Historic Driving Tour.
